Short Summary

Demonstrators were active in Manila yesterday (Wednesday) as the Philippines Supreme Court began hearing a petition challenging the right of President Marcos to suspend the writ of habeas corpus.

Description

1.
GV Supreme Court, demonstrators outside
3 ft

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CU Sign: Supreme Court
5 ft

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Demonstrators parading outside court with placards
14 ft

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Int. Crowd in court corridor
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Court orderly and lawyer push through crowd
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Court spectator frisked
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Young demonstrators marching towards court
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Ditto - outside court gate
36 ft

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Demonstrators parading with placards
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Demonstrators PAN to court
47 ft

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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Demonstrators were active in Manila yesterday (Wednesday) as the Philippines Supreme Court began hearing a petition challenging the right of President Marcos to suspend the writ of habeas corpus.

Last week the president, claiming a state of rebellion existed in the Philippines following a grenade attack at a political rally, revoked civil liberties, allowing the authorities to detain prisoners indefinitely.

At the Supreme Court, strict security measures were enforced with newsmen barred from the courtroom when the hearing began. The petition was signed by nine people who had been detained under the sweeping new powers.

They argued that the presidential action was null and void because the grounds for which it was made - a state of rebellion - did not exist - an argument supported by many of the demonstrators who milled outside the court.